Massage implement.



PATENTED OUT. 15, .1907.-

I No. 868,522.

A. BARKER. MASSAGE IMPLEMENT. APPLIOATION FILED: MAY 12. 1906.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MASSAGE IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters latent.

Patented Oct. 15, 1907.

Application filed May 12,1906. Serial NO- 316,526.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED BARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Massage Implements, of which the following is a specification.

Hy invention relates to that class of massage implements in which the rubbing member or applicator which comes in contact with the person is made of hard rubber, wood, or other material which is of a relatively rigid and inelastic character, the object of my invention being to modify the action of the applicator by imparting to it a certain degree of elasticity.

In the accompanying drawing: Figure l, is a perspective view of one form of massage device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2, is a transverse sectional view of the same taken through the central portion of the device; Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional view on the line 33, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, is a detached view of the elastic block; Fig. 5, is a detached view of the disk; Fig. 6, is a sectional view illustrating the application of my invention to another form of massage device; Fig. '7, is a sectional View showing still another embodiment of my invention, Fig. 8, is a plan view of one of the elements of the device shown in Fig. 7; and Fig. 9, is a view of my improvement applied to a cupped applicator.

The applicator shown in Fig. 1, consists of a bar A of wood, hard rubber, or other equivalent material, with central hub a, preferably of metal exteriorly threaded. Although the projecting arms of such a bar may possess a certain amount of resiliency the same is not sufficient to permit of the use of the bar without pain or discoinl'ort to the patient if the bar is rigidly mounted upon the shaft of the vibrator, hence I provide a yielding or elastic connection for the bar, which is preferably constructed as follows:

Seated in a recess in the hub a is a disk 13, with central projecting boss I) and this disk is seated against the face of the enlarged head (i of a cylindrical block D of rubber or other available elastic material, said enlarged head of the block having a central recess for the reception of the boss I) of the disk. The enlarged head of the rubber block D is engaged by a flanged cap C internally threaded for application to the externally threaded hub a, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when said cap is screwed tight the bar A will be firmly confined to the rubber block and the latter will permit of the yielding of any part of the bar upon. which pressure is exerted. The use of the disk B with its projecting boss b provides for an extended bearing area upon the rubber block and permits the elastic cushioning effect of the latter to be exerted to the best'advantage.

Within the rubber block D is embedded the head of a screw stem d intended for application to the shaft of the vibrator, this screw stem also receiving a flanged nut E, which receives, confines, and protects the outer portion of the rubber block, as shown in Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated the application of my invention to a massage device in the form of a hollow finger A, the construction being otherwise the same as in Fig. 2.

The disk B and its boss I) may, in some cases, be integral with the applicator instead of being separated therefrom, and in Figs. 7 and 8, I have illustrated such a construction, said disk being in this case formed integral with a cup-shaped applicator A of hard rubber or other material capable of being cast or molded, said material being cast around an internally projecting flange a on the externally threaded hub a, which flange has a series of notches a as shown in Fig. 8, so as to prevent rotation of the same independently of the device to which it is applied.

In Fig. 9, I have shown a modification of the applicater to which my invention can be applied. The applicator A has an extended flange a forming a cup, but it will be understood that any form of applicator can be used in connection with my invention, the essential feature of which is the elastic medium between the vibrator and the applicator, and this elastic medium is preferably made of solid rubber.

I claim:

1.-' lhe combination of an applicator, and a block of rubber secured thereto and to be attached to a vibrator so that the motion of the vibrator will be imparted to the applicator through the rubber block, substantially as specified.

2. The combination of a massage implement having a threaded hub, with an elastic block having an enlarged head and a flanged cap whereby said block is secured to the hub, substantially as specified.

3. The combination of a massage implement having a threaded hub, an elastic block having an enlarged head, a flanged cap whereby said hub is secured to the massage implement, and an inelastic washer interposed between said block and a seat in the hub, substantially as specified.-

4. The combination of a massage implement having a threaded hub, an elastic block having an enlarged head, a

flanged cap whereby said hub is secured to the massage implement, and an inelastic washer interposed between said block and a seat in the hub, said washer having a projecting boss seated in a recess in the elastic block, substantially as specified.

5. A massage implement having an elastic block constituting a support therefor, a threaded hub and cap whereby said block is secured to the implement, said hub being locked against rotation independently of'said implement, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED BARKER. Witnesses:

WILL. A. BARR, Jos. H. KLEIN. 

